Malaysia Tourism Minister Yen Yen says eco-tourism is all about the bucks

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Malaysia needs to produce more specialist guides to provide quality tourism service and boost the eco-tourism industry.

Currently, the country has 4,000 general tour guides, some of whom are not professionals, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said.

“We want more specialist tour guides who can tell stories about our tourist attractions,” she said during a visit to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) here yesterday.

Dr Ng said the ministry had set up a joint committee with UKM and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to develop modules aimed to train and produce more expert guides.

“Locals who are familiar with their home area in tourist destinations such as Fraser’s Hill, Tasik Chini and Lata Jarum should be trained to be specialist guides because they are the experts who can explain the tourist attractions,” she said.

Dr Ng added that the ministry was looking forward to collaborating with related ministries and agencies like UKM to develop eco-tourism to generate more revenue.

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Vote for the Ecotourism Spotlight Award!

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Government websites that engage locals and visitors about ecotourism, responsible travel and the local travel movement are eligible to win Planeta.com’s annual Ecotourism Spotlight Award.

The winner is announced in celebration of World Tourism Day (September 27) to spotlight best practices from government institutions. Nominations are accepted June 10-July 30, 2010. Voting takes place in August 2010.

The Ecotourism Spotlight Award creates incentives for communication, opportunities for conversation and a reward for participation among government leaders. Nominees receive international exposure and winners claim bragging rights!

“Locals and visitors are seeking ways to interact via ecotourism experiences,” said Planeta.com founder Ron Mader. “The Ecotourism Spotlight Award nudges government leaders toward creative and innovative ways that engage locals and visitors and inspire us all.”

Nominees include environmental, tourism and other government portals in three categories: local, national and international institutions. We will also consider private-public partnerships — websites funded by governments.

“It takes some time for awards to be recognized among likely candidates and the interested public,” Mader said. “Competition continues to grow as many government sites have spent considerable time and resources improving their online web presence.”

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Ecotourism in Korea’s DMZ?

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The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that divides North and South Korea�once described by Bill Clinton as �the scariest place on earth��is being promoted as an ecotourism destination.

Located an hour north of Seoul, the 249-kilometer (155-mile) long, 4-kilometer (2.5-mile) wide DMZ is known more for its armed soldiers, land mines and barbed wire than for being an oasis for rare flora and fauna. However, that is about to change.

Relatively untouched since 1953, when the two Koreas reached an armistice to halt the Korean War, the heavily fortified area is home to thousands of plant and animal species. As reported by The Guardian, environmentalists estimate there are at least 2,900 plant species, 70 mammals and 320 types of bird thriving in the area. There have also been unconfirmed sightings of rare tigers and leopards.

�The ecosystem in the DMZ is unique because it has been able to evolve over 56 years without human disturbance,� Kim Kwi Gon, professor of environmental planning and design at Seoul National University, told the Earth Times.

Kim is planning to undertake an ecological survey into the DMZ and hopes that the results will encourage the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to designate the zone as an official nature reserve by 2012.

Government authorities are also eager to rebrand the DMZ and promote it as a nature haven. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is collaborating with the Korea Tourism Organization to develop part of the buffer into a �Peace and Life Zone� (PLZ). The aim is to encourage peace and preserve the ecology, history and culture of the area while promoting tourist activities such as hiking. Because of high security and limited civilian access to the DMZ, independent tourists and tour groups will require permission from the Ministry of Defense.

Hall Healy, president of The DMZ Forum, a US-based non-governmental organization, argues that the untouched wetlands and ecosystems of the DMZ are a veritable gold mine. According to the Korea Society, he believes that if developed responsibly, the DMZ could provide Koreans with clean drinking water and trillions of won in revenue, as well as creating jobs in ecotourism, sustainable agriculture and ecosystem services.

While governments on both sides of the DMZ plan to develop designated border areas into a center for inter-Korean cooperation, international peace and ecological protection, it remains unknown how the project will affect tense relations between North and South Korea.

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